Coweb (2009) Review aka Combat Web

"Coweb" Chinese Theatrical Poster

AKA: Zhang Wu Shuang, Po Wang
Director: Hung Yan Yan
Writer: Sunny Chan Wing Sun
Producer: Joe Ma Wai Ho, Eddie Chan Shu Chi
Cast: Jiang Lu Xia, Sam Lee Chan Sam, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Kane Kosugi, Mike Moller, Edison Chen Koon Hei
Running Time: 87 min.

By HKFanatic

It’s one thing to watch a buff tough guy like Donnie Yen take on twenty enemies and defeat them all. You almost expect it. It’s another spectacle entirely when a young girl who’s barely five feet tall faces the same overwhelming odds and succeeds with a flurry of martial arts moves. That’s partially why the 2008 Thai action flick “Chocolate” and its star JeeJa Yanin made such a big splash. There’s been a void in the action world for a tough-as-nails female star ever since Michelle Yeoh stopped riding motorcycles onto moving trains; “Chocolate” gave those action fans hope.

Released a year later in 2009, “Coweb” feels like Hong Kong’s answer to “Chocolate.” It debuts a new female action star of its own: Jiang Luxia, who is young, petite, and does most of her own stunts. Luxia is the real deal: she’s a national Wushu champ who made a name for herself in YouTube videos, was featured on Jackie Chan’s reality TV show in Hong Kong, and teaches female self-defense classes.

I’ll admit, I have something of a crush on Luxia. She’s cute, she can fight, and she isn’t afraid to be kicked out a window. What more could an action movie fan want out of a woman? As such, I really wanted to like this movie. Unfortunately, “Coweb” disappoints.

There are numerous fight scenes from start to finish but the choreography and stunts just aren’t as hard-hitting as what comes out of Thailand. An over-reliance on wirework and slow-motion detracts from some of the fights, which most people will probably say go on for too long anyway. It doesn’t help that the best fight might actually be the very first one: a protracted battle that sees Luxia fighting an enraged gweilo through a restaurant kitchen to the point where she’s whacking him with frying pans and tossing chili peppers.

Speaking of rage, don’t piss Jiang Luxia off. You hear a lot talk of martial arts being about inner peace and finding your “center.” This kind of philosophy seems lost on Luxia’s character. She is mad as hell and she’s not going to take it anymore. If you take a shot of alcohol every time she screams in anger or the camera shows her clenching her fists, you’ll be on the floor by the time the credits roll. Personally, I thought it was refreshing to see a protagonist who doesn’t have Zen-like control over their emotions.

“Coweb” was obviously a low-budget affair. Every scene in this movie that isn’t about fighting simply depicts Luxia sitting somewhere and talking, or walking somewhere and talking to her co-star Sam Lee (remember him?). A good chunk of the story is revealed through text messages and web surfing, which is not visually interesting at all and another surefire sign that the “Coweb” filmmakers were strapped for cash.

At least the movie builds to a decent conclusion: a lengthy fight between Luxia and Kane Kosugi. Diehard martial arts fans, or people who just like 80′s b-movies, might recognize the name Kane Kosugi from back in the day. When he was just a little kid, he was starring in his dad’s ninja exploitation flicks like “Revenge of the Ninja” and “Pray For Death.” Now he’s all grown up and a talented performer in his own right.

So “Coweb” is not a great movie. To be honest, I’m not sure it was meant to be. At most it’s a demo reel for Luxia to show what she’s capable of as martial artist and stuntwoman. In that regard, the film is a success: I can’t wait to see what she does next. And, in fact, her career has taken off. Right now she’s being cast in just about every Hong Kong movie that requires a tough female fighter: she’s in “Bad Blood” with Simon Yam and Andy On, the supernatural actioner “Vampire Warriors,” and Yuen Woo-Ping’s latest film “True Legend.” She is a talent to watch, that’s for sure.

HKFanatic’s Rating: 6.5/10